Lilly plant named &#39;sorbonne&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lily plant named ‘Sorbonne’ characterized by having soft, pinkish-red color, white flower tips, upright flowers, and vigorous growth habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar oflily plant, botanically known as Lilium L., and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Sorbonne’.

[0002] ‘Sorbonne’ is a product of a planned breeding program which hadthe objective of creating new lily cultivars having large, uprightflowers.

[0003] ‘Sorbonne’ was originated from a hybridization made by theinventor in a controlled breeding program in Rijnsburg, the Netherlandsin 1985. The male and female parents were unnamed seedlings of Lilium L.oriental hybrids. Both parents are proprietary cultivars used in thebreeding program.

[0004] ‘Sorbonne’ was discovered and selected as one flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross by the inventor, Cees A. van derVoort, on Jun. 7, 1988 in a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, theNetherlands.

[0005] The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Sorbonne’ wasaccomplished when scales were taken from the initial selection inOctober 1988 in a controlled environment in Rijnsburg, the Netherlandsby, or under the supervision of, Cees A. van der Voort. Horticulturalexamination of selected units initiated in May, 1988 has demonstratedthat the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for‘Sorbonne’ are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be basic characteristics of ‘Sorbonne’ which incombination distinguish this lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

[0007] 1. soft, pinkish red-color;

[0008] 2. white flower tips;

[0009] 3 . upright flowers; and

[0010] 4. vigorous growth habit.

[0011] ‘Sorbonne’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantlywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, anddaylength without any change in genotype. The following observations,measurements, and values describe the new cultivar as in theexperimental research station CPRO-DLO, Wageningen, the Netherlandsunder conditions which approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

[0012] Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor,no other cultivars are similar in comparison to ‘Sorbonne’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0013] The accompanying color photographic drawing shows typical plant,bulb and flower characteristics of ‘Sorbonne’, with colors being as trueas possible with illustrations of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0014] In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (RHS). The color values weredetermined between 12 am and 2 pm in July, 1993 at the Dutchexperimental research station CPRO-DLO, Wageningen, the Netherlands.ORIGIN: Seedling from breeding program PARENTAGE: Female parent: Unnamedseedling Male parent: Unnamed seedling CLASSIFICATION: Botanical: Ahybrid of the genus Lilium L. Commercial: Oriental Lily cv. ‘Sorbonne’PLANT: Form: A single stem carrying numerous, alternately arrangedpedicels Height: Medium to high for the mature plant, approximately 120cm, depending on cultivation conditions Growth Habit: Vigorous Stem:Circular in transverse section; anthocyanin pigmentation absent;internodal length uniform Foliage: Quantity: Approximately 70 Size ofleaf: Medium length and width depending on cultivation conditions Shapeof leaf: Generally ovate Color: Medium green Bulb: Size: 16 to 18 cm incircumference Color: White/pink BUD: Form: Tapering like a lancet Size:Medium, 11 cm in length depending on cultivation conditions Opening:Unfolds normally Color: Pinkish-green; light-pink, RHS 62 B, just beforeopening Tepals: Folded, three visible FLOWER: Blooming habit: RacemeSize: Medium, 20 cm in diameter depending on cultivation conditionsBorne: Upright to horizontal along a longitudinal axis Shape: Generally,hexagonal star in form and bowl-shaped in cross-section Tepalage: Numberof Tepals: 6 Arrangement: Three inner and three outer Color: UpperSurface: Pinkish-red, RHS 64D; mid-vein is green fading to white LowerSurface: Pink, RHS 62B Spotting or Marking: Spots and markings arepresent, dark pink in color Pedicel: Length: Medium, 10 cm long Color:Soft pink, RHS 65A, at the tips of the tepals fading to white Form:Tapering like a lancet Texture: Papillose Disease Resistance: MediumFragrance: Weak Lasting Quality: Excellent REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS: Stamensand anthers: Arrangements: Anthers form a generally circular pattern attheir upper ends Number: 6 Length: Medium length depending oncultivation conditions Filaments Color: Green Pollen color: Orange-brownAnther color: Orange-brown Pistils: Green Stigma: Purple Ovaries:Triangular in shape

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lily plant named ‘Sorbonne’,as illustrated and described herein.